SWAMPSCOTT — Assistant Town Administrator Ron Mendes will leave his position at Town Hall for a new one in Newton, the town announced Wednesday.
Mendes has been treasurer collector and chief procurement officer for the past seven years, and was appointed assistant town administrator for administration and finance in 2017. He will begin his new job as city treasurer in Newton May 17.
Mendes said he felt excited about the move to the larger town, where he worked as business manager for the Department of Public Works before coming to Swampscott.
“A lot of the same people there back then are still there, so I felt a connection,” he said. “When I met with Mayor (Ruthanne) Fuller, she likened me going back to Newton as going back home.”
“Obviously it’s hard to lose someone of Ron’s caliber, but he’s advancing his career in an impressive way,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. “He’s really been a critical part of the team and he has helped us improve our bond rating and strengthen our financial reserves and keep Swampscott’s financial focus as a priority.”
Fitzgerald joked that he hoped Mendes would be around to continue to entertain Town Hall with his ugly sweater contests and culinary talents, and noted the difference in Newton and Swampscott’s populations — 90,000 to 15,000, respectively.
Mendes, who lives in Lynn, confirmed that he and his family won’t be moving to the Garden City.
“I keep telling people they’ll still run into me in the grocery store,” he said.
